Sawdust can replace polystyrene.
Now a team led by an American design and engineering student has discovered another way to manufacture sustainable packaging material.
The team mixed coffee grounds, brown rice flour, Reishi mushroom spores, xanthan gum and water to form a paste, which was 3D printed into different objects.
These were then kept in a closed container for ten days. This time allowed the mushroom spores to grow within the paste and form a water-resistant film on the outside.
Drying the protective pieces for 24 hours afterwards prevented mushroom growth. The paste is not ready for mass production and research into biodegradable alternatives continues.
Coffee, incidentally, can strengthen cement, while mushrooms help to keep the noise down.
